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Wednesday, 20 June 2012

Negotiating the National Security & Territorial Integrity of Greece

The reality of the 21st century
has modified the traditional philosophy regarding the definition of
national security as guided by the concept of a country’s national
interests. National security of a country does not anymore adhere to a
strict definition, but to a broad one.

In order for a country to
construct a national security policy that is right for its aspirations,
it must establish its national goals that become the country’s national
interests. National goals are based on issues that the citizens of a
country (and its diaspora as part of a nation) value most. In a broad
sense, national interests can be defined as anything that could affect
the quest for the national goals. Consequently, the national interests
of a country determine the aspects of the national security of that
country, which are physical and psychological.

Physical aspects
of the national security are comprised of security and defense forces,
which bestow high morale and pride for the country, aka patriotism.
Psychological aspects include, but are not limited to social, monetary,
commercial, political, educational, and national health issues.

The
formulation of the national security policy, which is ever changing,
depends on the intelligence received from diplomatic missions abroad,
foreign diplomatic missions at home, military and civilian attachés,
commercial delegations, publications, tourism, and a vast array of other
sources. In a government that prudence prevails, intelligence shapes
the national security policy while in irresponsible governments
intelligence fits that country’s national security policy. Considering
that policies are guided by political affinities, political behaviors,
or philosophies disregarding the reality on the ground, the latter is
the wrong way to go.

Regarding the FYROM, it has become apparent
that its national goal is the dismemberment of Greece. In social
media, publications, and speeches, statements made by its officials, citizens, and organizations of the FYROM diaspora, one gathers that the incorporation of Greek Macedonia into the FYROM is a value of utmost significance for all FYROM Slavs.

The
most significant point of all is not that the FYROM’s simple citizens
and its Slavic diaspora want Greece’s dismemberment, it is the officials
of the FYROM who are proudly photographed in front of maps depicting
“Greater Macedonia” while government sponsored events filled with
anti-Hellenic songs, flags depicting the Sun of Vergina on a red
background, statues of ancient Greek
heroes and mythological figures, re-naming of buildings, roads, stadia,
etc. indicate that it is only the beginning of Greece’s troubles.
Considering the above, the process has elevated FYROM’s specific goal as
part of its national security, which is expressed in its foreign policy
and materializes with the help of diplomacy, lobbies, diaspora, and
whatever means serve their goal. The FYROM’s distorted ancient
Macedonian history is being used in order to claim Greek territory in
the future.

The name Macedonia, its derivatives, and the fake
identity of the Slavs are directly connected to Greece’s national
security and territorial integrity. Greeks have not yet realized that
ancient history, albeit distorted, has been successfully used by Skopje
as a distraction to the real issue. The historical distraction thrown on
the Greeks by Skopje has allowed Skopje to freely use its foot soldiers
(diplomatic corps, diaspora, professional lobbyists, etc) in order to
achieve its national goal while Greece remained inactive. Only due to
the pressure that the Greek diaspora has exerted on the Greek
government, Greece has not recognized Skopje as Macedonia.

As
militarily weak as Skopje is at present, it has become a formidable
political opponent to Greece it could conceivably achieve its national
goal in the future. The manner in which Bulgaria annexed in 1885
Eastern Rumelia, and how Kosovo became independent in the beginning of the 21st century
should be a lesson to all on what a “weak” state can do once it finds
the right patron. The officials of Greece must seriously consider the
above-mentioned indicators and warnings that affect the national
security of the country.